Appropedia talk:AT CAD Team

Reducing manufacturing cost of designs

An article should be made describing some guidelines on how the manufacturing cost of CAD designs can be lowered.
Some examples:

Using parts in the design that are already mass produced and that are globally or widely available reduces the cost allot. For example, ie tyres that are already manufactured for automobiles are frequently used as plant pots in permaculture designs, ...

Reducing the amount of material needed is also useful. Dimensioning ie metal parts to only the thickness as required for the structure's rigidity, allows to produce more parts and will thus reduce the cost.

Great suggestions - someone could start it as a stub, with these ideas. Though perhaps it's really "Appropriate technology design principles" rather than CAD design principles, since these are good ideas regardless of design technique.